Automatic fire hose reel



Sept. 8,1936, 'v. E. DAVIS r AUTOMATIC FIRE HOSE REEL- Filed May 51, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Sept. 8, '1936. v. E. DAVIS AUTOMATIC FIRE HOSE REEL 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 51, 1955 Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC FIRE-HOSE Vernon E. Davis, Poug-hkeepsie, N. 3?.

Application May 31, 1935, Serial No. 24,259

8 Claims.

This invention relates 'to an automatic 'fire hose reel of that class which is intended for use in public buildings, factories, schools, vessels and other places where fire protection is installed,

'5 and it relates moreparticularly to a re'el on which a fire hose is coiled when not in use, but which maybe brought into instant use in an automatic manner and without the removal of the hose therefrom.

10 While devices of this kind have been made and used before, they are intended for the storage of the hose and require that after the hose is removed from the reel that the water he admitted to the hose in the usual manner by the manipulationof a hand valve located in the water supply line, or that the water he first admitted to the coiled hose and the hose then run off of the reel.

In the latter case, means have to be .provided to compensateior the rounding out or expansion of the hoseaslthe water is passed therethrough, as the empty hose is coiled on the reel in a spiral formation; that is each successive convolution wrapped upon the other in such a manner that when the water .is admitted to the inner-end of 25 the hose theinner wrap or coil will have to expand against the pressure of the outer coils and as this is'not possible, means have to be provided to allow the inner coils to expand inwardly or toward the hub of the reel and also .sidewise 30 to allow the water to quickly and freely travel through the hose without danger of the hose being fouled or twisted.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic fire hose reel in which the water enters 35 through the hub; the hose is coiled in a spiral thereon and means is provided for allowing the hose to expand instantly as the water passes therethrough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 40 device of this kind havingmeansfor supporting the .hose in a sure and compact .manner when not in use, but allowing it to instantly expand due to the pressure of the water passing therethrough. I

45 Another object of the invention is to provide means w'hereby'by the act of removing the nozzle of the hose from its holder, the water will be automatically admitted to the hose and the pressure of the water will operate the means for releasing the coils and allowing of their instant expansion. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind in which the reel sides are 55 stationary in relation to each other and donot (01. ass-tel either expand or contract thus providing a rugged support for the hose.

Another object of the invention is to provide in addition to the regular water cut-off valve, an I automatic water valve which is apart 'of "the de- 5 vice and which is operated in an automatic manner "by ithe'removal of the hose nozzle and in such a way that all of the subsequent operations of the device are operated by the water pressure.

' Another object of the invention is to provide me'ans whereby the hose can expand upon the reel to allow the water to pass therethrough without removing any 'of the hose from the reel if so desired. v

A further object of the invention is to prov'i'd'e an "automatic the hose reel which shall be simple in operation, positive in action and i001" proof.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel construction and combination 'of parts as will hereinafter be fully described and claimed, and further illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like figures of reference refer to corresponding parts in all of the views, and it is understood that slight 5 changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a side elevation of the reel and valve mechanism, partly in section, showing the automatic valve closed and "the hose nozzle locked in its socket or bracket.

Figure 2 is a partial edge view of the same.

Figure '3Iis a partial view of the nozzle bracket with thenozzle removed thereirom to open the valve.

Figure 4 is a partial detail sectional view of the swivel pipe connection, showing the lock for preventing the swivel movement of the hose reel arm.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the hose reel and 40 hose retaining plate partly in section with the hose coiled thereon.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the hose reel and retaining plate and showing the receded position of the plate after the supporting arms have been released by the expansion of the hose.

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view, showing the form of supporting arm used adjacent to the goose-neck.

Figure 8 is av partial view of one side of the reel and retaining plate with the supporting arms in released position.

v Figure 9 is a partial sectional view of one side 55 of the reel, showing the supporting arms folded against the side.

Referring to the drawings:

The device may be suitably supported to a wall, post or the like, or directly to a water main stand pipe, and as herewith shown comprises in addition to the regular water main I0 and cut-off valve II, a pipe nipple I2 to which is connected a valve I3 which will be explained in detail later, and to the other end of which is attached by the nipple I4 an elbow I5 to which is attached the vertical pipe I6 to the upper end of which is swiveled the reel'supporting tubular arm I'I, having a swivel connection I8 to the hub I 9 of the reel.

Taking first, the construction of the hose reel and referring to Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9; a tubular hub I 9 closed on one end and threaded at the other end is provided with the two annular flanges 20 adjacent the ends thereof and to which are secured in some suitable manner, such as the rivets 2|, the two spoked sides of the reel 22 which are formed with the annular peripheral flanges 23; while one of said sides 22 is provided with a series of spaced stops 24 and the opposite side with a series of hooked-guides 25.

Within the hub I9 is rotatably mounted the inner end of the tubular swivel member 26, which is of smaller diameter than the bore of the hub I9 and spaced therefrom by annular rings 21 formed thereon and is retained in place by a gland 28 and packing nut 29, and has formed in the sides thereof and within the hub I9, the ports 30; while the outer end of this swivel member 26 is connected at right angles to the reel supporting tubular arm I? adjacent the outer end thereof.

The hub I9 is also formed with the four radial flanges or fins 3| upon which the hose retaining plate 32 slides; and this hub I9 is also formed with the tubular goose-neck 33 having a threaded end for a standard hose coupling 34 to which is attached one end of the length of hose 35; while to the other end is attached the nozzle 36. I

For supporting the hose 35 when empty in a vertical coil as shown and adjacent to one side 22 of the reel, a retaining plate 32 is provided and formed with a series of spaced openings 31 and communicating slots 38 and 39, and normally located within the slots 38 and at right angles to both the sides 22 and plate 32 are the hose supporting arms 46, which are provided with the transverse pins 4| for engagement with the sides of the slots 38 to retain the plate 32 in contact with the empty coiled hose 35.

One end of the arm 40 being notched at'42 to engage the stop 24 and the other end having a. round hub 43 adapted to contact with and be guided by the hooked guide 25 and retained in place by a spring 44 having one end secured to the arm 46 and the other end to the reel side 22.

As the hose 35 is expanded by the water entering the same, the inner coils will press upon the arms 40, forcing them in toward the hub I9 against the action of the springs 44 and at the same time the arms 40 will move toward the side 22 by the action of the guide 25 pulling the notched end 42 oil. of the stop 24 and swinging the arm 40 to allow the pin 4| to pass through the opening 31 in the plate so that said plate 32 can move over towards the other reel side 22, allowing the hose 35 to expand into this added space as shown by the dotted lines; while the arms 40 assume the position shown in Figure 9.

On account of the spokes 45 of the sides 22 being in close proximity to the goose-neck hose connection 33, it would be impossible to operate the supporting arms 40 in these two spokes, and I have therefore constructed these two spokes 45 of channel shape in cross-section and have formed therein the stops 46 upon which rests the ends of a cross supporting arm 41, which is normally retained in contact with said stops by the springs 48 attached to the ends thereof and to the channels 45.

These arms 41 are provided with transverse pins 49 similar to the pins 4| but with a beveled side; the object of these pins being to normally retain the plate 32 in contact with the deflated hose 35, while the expansion of the hose 35 will force the arms 41 toward the hub I9 against the action of the springs 48 and allowing the pins 49 to pass through the opening 31 in the plate 32 in the same manner as the plate 32 passes over the pins 4| of the arms 40.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the piping comprises the water supply pipe ID, a standard cut-off valve II, and the nipple I2 to which is connected the automatic valve I3, which comprises as here shown an inverted globe valve having a smooth valve stem 50, to the lower end of which is threaded an adjustable knurled shoe 5| which is retained in an adjusted position by a lock 52 secured upon the valve stem by the screw 53 and having a depending knife-edge arm 54 en- {gaging with the knurling on the face of the shoe For operating this valve I3 in an automatic manner, I have provided a clamp or support for the hose nozzle 36, and which comprises a plate 55 which may be mounted in some suitable manner and which is provided with the two stationary supporting arms 56 formed with notched ends 51, and the two bearings 58 Within which is rotatably mounted a shaft 59, upon which between the bearings 58 is secured in a rigid manner an arm 60 corresponding to the arms 56 and also having a notched end 6|; these notches 51 and BI embracing the hose nozzle 36, which is retained therein by a swinging arm 62 pivoted upon a stud 63 also secured to the plate 55; this clamping arm 62 having a stop 64 adapted to 'contact with a. stop 65 on the plate 55 to limit its swing.

Secured on one end of the shaft 59 is an arm 66, which when the nozzle 36 is in place in the clamp, will contact with the lower surface of the shoe 5| forcing'the valve stem 50 upward and closing the valve I3, and by means of the adjustment provided by the shoe 5| being threaded upon the stem 50, the length between the lower face of the shoe 5| and the valve seat can be varied so that the valve will be tightly closed until the nozzle 36 is removed from the clamp, when the arm 60 will drop turning the shaft 59 and swinging the arm 66 down to allow the valve stem 56 to move downward opening the valve seat by the pressure of the water against said valve or disk 61 on the stem 50; the valve I I having been manually opened before.

The outlet end of the valve I3 is connected by a nipple I4 and elbow I5 to the vertical pipe I6 which is retained by a bracket 10 to some suitable object such as the wall or post, and upon'the upper end of the pipe I6 is mounted the head II of the tubular supporting arm I"! for the reel.

This head 'II is formed with a chamber 12 at right angles to the tubular arm I7, and the end of the pipe I6 is spaced from the closed end of this chamber I2 to form an air pocket or cushion; the upper end of the pipe I6 having formed in the sides thereof the ports 13 through which the water passes from the pipe I6 to the tubular arm I1; the arm I1 being adapted to swivelupon the pipe. [6 and atig'ht. joint being prov-idedrby the: packing 14:. and nut 15'.

- The H; where i-tijoins: the. tubular arm I1 is also: provided wan. the: upper rib l9 and. the lowerribz'lfi, andtot preventthearm I1 fromswiw eli'ng upon the pipev It. When; not: in use; there is provided: a. lock; comprising. a yoke ll embrace ing: the rib I6 and secured: upon. the upper end. of a? roan-a1 which is slidably mounted in the bracket 16- and has its lower end hinged to the arm 60, so that when the arm 60 drops down therod 18 will be carried with it and free the yoke 11 from maria-16* allowing the arm I! to freely swing upon the pipe l6, so that the hose 35 may be pulled off of the reel at right angles thereto.

The outer end of the tubular arm I! is secured at right angles to the inner member l8 of the hub l9, and is extended beyond this junction and closed on the end to form a cushion or air chamber 80.

In the operation of the device, the hose 35 having been connected to the goose-neck 33 and coiled upon the arms 40 and 41 of the reel and between one side 22 and the retaining plate 32 in the form of a spiral, the hose being in its collapsed state or folded flat.

The hose nozzle 36 is retained within the clamp and the automatic valve I3 is closed, and the hand operated valve I l is open.

In case of fire, first pull down to one side upon the locking arm 62; grasp the nozzle 36 and free it from the clamp. The arm 66 will at once drop owing to the water in the pipe in exerting pressure upon the valve disk, the stem 50 of which has been released by the arm 66 on the shaft 59.

The water pressure now passes through the valve l3, pipe l6, head ll and tubular arm I! and pipe l8 to the hub l9 and through the gooseneck 33 to the hose 35 expanding the same as it flows therethrough, and as the inner coils of the hose 35 are first expanded, they exert pressure upon the arms 40 and 41 depressing them towards the hub I!) so that the plate 32 can pass over the pins 4| and 49 sliding over upon the ribs 3| and allowing the expanding hose 35 to expand both towards the hub l9 and the other side 22 of the reel as shown by the dotted sectional views of the hose.

Before the hose is returned to the reel, the water may be shut off in either of two ways; that is by the hand operated valve H or by raising upward on the arm 66, which will by the action of the arm 66 raise the valve stem 50 and close the valve 13.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an automatic hose reel, comprising a reel formed with permanently spaced apart sides, of a hollow hub for said reel and means for connecting the same to the water main, radial guide fins formed on said hub between said sides, a slidable hose retaining plate mounted on said flanges, means for supporting said hose and holding said plate in contact with the coiled and deflated hose, and actuated by the water entering said hose for releasing said plate to slide from the expanding hose for increasing the capacity of the reel.

2. In an automatic hose reel, comprising a hol low hub having a hose connection, and a pair of permanently spaced apart sides, hose supporting arms mounted between said sides and adapted to support a deflated hose coiled upon itself and connected to said hub, a hose retaining plate slidably mounted: upon. said; hub"- and retained by" said: arms; said. arms being actuated by the: water. pressure entering-7 the hose tort re.- leasing. the'splate' from the arms: and moving. said tflipelmil'i ot the" expansion of the hose: upon the: reel; 1 V r 3'. In: an automatic hoserreel; comprising-arm tatable reel: having permanently spaced apart sides and: a: tubular .hub, means for con meeting said hub both to the watersupply' main andithe hose, a hose retaining; plate: slidably inountedsozr saidl hub for retaining. the: deflated hose;, for teinporaizilyiretainings said plate in contact with a coiled and deflated hose having a nozzle rendered inoperative to retain said plate on inflation of the hose, a water control valve mounted on said supply main, a clamp for normally retaining the hose nozzle, and means actuated by the removal of the nozzle from the clamp for admitting water pressure to expand the hose and, through the expansion of the hose operating the retaining means to release the plate and provide additional space for the inflated hose.

4. In an automatic hose reel, the combination with a hose having a nozzle, of a reel having permanently spaced apart sides and a hollow hub connected to the Water main, a deflated hose retaining plate slidably mounted on said hub, and locking means for said plate rendered inoperative to retain said plate on inflation of the hose, a clamp for normally retaining the hose nozzle, a control valve mounted in the water supply main, and means actuated by the removal of the nozzle from the clamp for opening said valve and admitting water to the hose, whereby the same is expanded operating the locking means and releasing the plate.

5. In an automatic hose reel, the combination with a hose of a reel having permanently spaced apart sides and a tubular hub connected to the water main, a retaining plate slidably mounted on said hub between the spaced sides of the reel for retaining the deflated hose, a hose connection on said hub for retaining the inner end of the hose within the coils of the hose, means for normally radially supporting the coils of deflated hose and locking the plate, and adapted to be actuated by the pressure of the water entering the hose to release said plate and supporting means to allow of the expansion of the hose upon the reel.

6. In an automatic hose reel, the combination with a hose having a nozzle, of a reel comprising two permanently spaced apart sides formed with channel shaped spokes and a rim, a tubular hub attached to said sides, a deflated hose retaining plate slidably mounted on said hub between the sides, arms mounted to and between said sides for supporting the deflated hose and retaining the plate and adapted to be released by the inflation of the hose, a clamp for normally retaining the nozzle of the hose, means for connecting the tubular hub to a water main, an automatic control valve located in the water main and means for operating said control valve to admit water to the hose by the removal of the hose nozzle from the clamp.

7. In an automatic hose reel, comprising a pair of permanently spaced sides, a tubular hub secured to and between said sides and connected both to the water main supply and the inner end of the hose, fins formed on said hub in axial relation thereto, a series of deflated hose supporting arms normally secured to said sides in parallel relation with each other and the hub, a hose retaining plate slidably mounted on said fins and formed with openings for said arms, pins secured in said armsadapted to engage with the sides of saidopenings to retain said plate in position to retain the coiled deflated hose and adapted to release both the arms and the plate by the expansion of the hose under water pressure to provide additional space upon the reel of the expanded hose.

8. In an automatic hose reel comprising a tubular hub connected both to the water supply main and the hose, a pair of permanently spaced sides attached to said hub, a plate movably mounted on said hub, releasable means for retaining said plate and supporting a coiled deflated hose adjacent to one side of the reel, means for retaining said supporting means rendered inoperative to retain said supporting means on inflation of the hose, both the supporting means and the retaining means being automatically released and moved by the water entering the hose to provide additional space upon the reel for the expanded 10 hose.

VERNON E. DAVIS. 

